
Sand Hill Cranes

magnificent fliers

floating in space.

They drift by

like giant ballons

untethered by human hands.

Proud silhouettes

kissed by the golden sunset.

Cheers to you from the wintering cranes at the Salton Sea~
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Wow Cindy, they are really beautiful 🙂
Thanks Irene, they are epic birds!🐦
Reblogged this on Random Ramblings; Myriad Musings and commented:
Beautiful photographs of regal, watchful cranes…thank you, Cindy!
😎
Thank you for your kindness and your support of our previously endangered Sandhill Cranes!🐦
Those fliers are very skilled, aren’t they? Great photos, Cindy! 🙂
They float fly, like kites with long legs for pushing off the ground!
What a wonderful way to describe them, Cindy! To infinity and beyond 😉
They make their home here in the Valley grasslands and marshes. A site to behold! Great photos – especially at sunset.
Oh I would love to see them! 🐦
Cindy, I could jump right into your photographs – they are that clear and captivating. I actually felt as if I were part of the flock 💖
I love it! You are so kind and so appreciated. Thank you for the light you shine into my life daily and be well my dear friend~ <3 🐦
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/bb/84/0c/bb840ce9e33a03f66d6f3c17b7d67078.jpg
Aaaaaw, you’re so sweet, dear Cindy – and so appreciated ♥
Stunningly beautiful photos, Cindy, of these magnificent birds. They really are amazing to watch!
They are incredible to watch and they are 5 feet tall with 61/2 foot wing spans! Big birdies! 🐦
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
Sand Hill Cranes captured with the magic of Cindy Knokes and her camera.. Wonderful as always.
That is what you are Sally. Wonderful. Always!
http://scrapbookingandpapercrafts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Heart-Thank-You-Card2.jpg
Wow. Such grace and simplicity in motion. Thank you for sharing, Cindy. Heartstopping photography again. <3 <3 <3
Aww, thank you! They are grace & beauty personified. I can see why they are so frequently depicted in art.
So beautiful, Cindy. You are such a good photographer.
You are so nice & so appreciated for saying so! Cheers to you & thank you too~🐦
Oh you got some wonderful shots! There are two pairs of sandhill cranes at Reifl Bird Sanctuary near Vancouver. We’ve seen them several times, and up quite close.
Alison
How awesome! Are I want to visit. Let me know when you will be in town!
March and April, then Oct Nov Dec
November would work. We have to take Rebecca Budd with us, aka clanmother. She lives in Vancouver. This would be a blast!
Okay! Let’s keep in touch about this. it would be fabulous to meet up.
Yes!
wow how good photographer are you! So beautiful as always
kisses
Ahh, kind soul are you! Thank you~ 🐦
very welcome
They are gorgeous!
They are pretty amazing, and a very old species~
So amazing. Gave me chills. <3
Ah, hugs to you my dear friend~ 🐦
Ditto. 😀
Beautiful photos. We lived in Kissimmee, Florida for a while and had both migrating and resident flocks. I loved watching them fly to the lake at dusk. And the noise they make!
Their calls are awesome and so distinctive, and the sound of the wings when a huge flock take to the sky, is just really special. They are so beautiful in flight, it looks like the take offs are in slow motion. You are lucky to have lived among them 🐦🐦
Reblogged this on penpowersong.
Salamat sa iyong kagandahang-loob! 🐦
Wolfie is flying with them! It’s very cool and refreshing up there!! 😉
No wonder they were so jittery and nervous. I thought it was me! They are not used to a wolf in the flock, although a canada goose is fine with them. Check out:
how fun..heh love it
<3
Have seen Sandhills nearly all of my life, Cindy. On the farm as I grew up, on lakes and rivers, and even in Florida when I lived there. They seem a solid constant, like a fixed star to me. Thanks for the wonderful reminder. The pics are so clear and crisp it’s like looking out of my window. The pics at sunset are stunning ! Ya done a great job (again)! 🙂
How lucky you are! For me they are a rarity, reminds me of when I travel. In Africa once I was excited about photographing crocodiles on a river. The Africaner women who saw me asked, “Why are you taking photos of those? They are so common.” Not to me. I have only seen them in the wild a handful of times.
I’d love to see these birds, but oddly they have never been reported on Abaco, despite their strong wings. It’s a relatively short flight across from Florida… and they could even pause on Grand Bahama en route. But they have never been reported there either… So it looks like I’ll have to go to them! RH
Sounds like a good excuse to travel!:) I just heard there are occasional flamingos at The Salton Sea. This I gotta see!
Fantastic 🙂
You are a kind friend!
Thanks 🙂
These a magnificent, Cindy! What an exciting thing to see. I especially like the silhouettes and the shot where they are lined up in the grasses. Such cool birds.
They are regal giants aren’t they! So pleased you enjoyed them & Happy Sunday~
Dearest Cindy, I am sure it is a very busy time for you… I am of course with my darling Michele a little on the sad side, I try not to think about it.. I do miss you all.. especially you and a couple others. well good nite my friend
Sherri
I am therefore I am.. is that the right way you say it.. I love it.. may I use it on my other blogs..
I will put your sculpture up again..
huggs
Or just the short version, “I am.”
Love and thoughts with you and Michele this Christmas season Sherri. Take good care of yourself. There is only one of you! <3
beautiful…truly such beauty…
Your kindness makes me happy~
☺️😁 😁
Impresionantes fotos del vuelo de las grullas!!!!
Abrazos amiga mia! <3
Stunning shots! Thank you, Cindy!
Honored and thank you Sofia!
As per usual your photos are amazing Cindy > As per usual I seem to like the last but one but am not sure why 🙂 Fantastic 🙂
I often put my favorite last so I appreciate you liking it Andy, but mostly I just appreciate you my friend~
Thanks Cindy > Its lovely to hear that. Wishing you a brilliant week > Your mate in China 🙂
Be well! 🐦
Wow. Beautiful pictures, Cindy.
The least I can do for a beautiful friend like you Cynthia. Happy Holidays~
Thanks and the same to you. We are in the midst of Advent now, and slowly moving into Christmas. Loving the carols and the daily ways of marking Advent that others share!
Sounds like the Christmas season! Lovely! 🎄
Olá Cindy! Mais uma vez surpresa com o seu trabalho. Lindo demais! Um abraço!
Voce e uma pessoa adoravel! Obrigada meu amigo e estar bem~ <3
I love birds, Cindy! Your post so often features them which is a true blessing. I think of them as “winged messengers” like earth’s angels. Thank you for the extra bonus of a gorgeous sunset thrown in. 🙂 hugs xo
My favorite photo was the silhouettes against the golden sunset, Cindy.
Hope you have a precious holiday season with Joy and Peace. 🙂
Happiest Holidays to you and your family Robin and you are most aptly named my friend~ 🐦
You are so kind and accepting of my inconsistent visits, Cindy. Just like a great friend, picking up where we left off. . .
My Dad’s name was Robert, which in a rare way of his he chose to name me, the first one after himself. I treasure that the precious page boy haircut of Christopher Robin became Robin (he does resemble a girl with his cloak on 🙂 ) who my Dad read to me as a young toddler in “House at Pooh Corner.” My younger brothers and I finally learned he was a boy when we went to school. 😉
Thank you for the sweet name compliment which brought back this short story to share with you. <3
<3 🦆
For a moment there I felt I too was soaring 🙂 Needless to say I loved the photos and your thoughts – “untethered by human hand; proud silhouettes kissed by the golden sunset” Speechless.
Ahh, your kindness touched my heart. Thank you & cheers too~ <3
🙂
Yes, they are magnificent birds. Your magnificent photos do them justice.
Honored & humbled by your thoughtfulness~ 🦆
Amazing photos Cindy– they look so stately! I can’t believe the variety of life you find everywhere… So hope you are enjoying getting ready for Christmas. I wrapped the last gift today– hooray! Christmas hugs from here to you!
I enjoy the whole Christmas hoopala, the cooking and the decorating, the eggnog and homemade cookies. I just need to get rid of 2 more pounds before I can commence gaining them back again! The best of the Season to you Rhonda~ <3
Ha ha ha Cindy! I have the gain 2, lose 2 in January plan going. We’ll see how it works! Thank you for a year of beauty in all your photos… Christmas blessings.
Visa versa 2UX2! <3 <3
Red crown protected area In eastern China.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-crowned_crane
Beautiful shots, Cindy. Lovely, graceful birds. I have this spot on my list when we go on our road trip to CA.
Please touch base with me before you go so I can direct you to the areas where you will see the masses of birds and also give you some tips on places to stay and dine. Many parts of The Salton Sea are like a post apocalyptic wasteland so you will want to be selective!
Yes, Cindy. I will and many thanks for your offer. I want to see the “wasteland” but I don’t want to eat there!
The ghost town is fascinating and there are some really great restaurants in nearby Borrego Springs!
Love to see the cranes. I’m very happy to see that they choose to visit the area. Perhaps there’s hope for the life of that lake still. I read a devistating report about this lake being an environmental disaster. With the drought and lack of run off from the area, it’s very much like the area we used to live in. Here in Alberta, it’s the Cooking Lake Moraine. A vast area of wetlands and grassy lakes. All are low and the window of surviving is closing…sigh
The thing that is amazing about The Salton Sea is that it has been this hugely agriculturally polluted body of water for some time but it continues to support millions of thriving migratory birds. SoCal is finally getting a series of rain storms now. This will help the birds and the sea as it was rapidly evaporating. You are a good friend, my friend. Be well~ <3
Amazing
Merci beaucoup! 📷📷
Nature is the true artist. Grace and beauty in the sky.
You are a 🕯 in my life~ 👼🕯🌟
Eye opening photographs, Cindy! I love them all so much!
So kind of you and so very appreciated! Thank you & cheers too~
Exquisite as always, Cindy 💖
You are such a good friend Tina, hugs to you~ 🐦
She’s got her mojo a workin’ but it just won’t work for me! Oh she’s got her mojo a workin’ as good, as good as it can be! Cindy’s got her mojo a workin’ and she’s as could as she can be! 😊😊😊👍❤️😘
Glad to have it and never want to lose it! Laughing…….
Oh for sure! I don’t want
You to ever lose it either‼️❌⭕️
<3
Do you ever wish you had wings?
Yes!!!
Me too. Before I got PTSD, I used to dream of flying – often. They were marvelous dreams. I miss them!
I am so sorry. Hugs. <3
No worries. It’s a fact of life now. Have some flying dreams for me, okay?? (smile)
I will. Freud said flying dreams of flying were dreams of death. I don’t agree, but do see them as dreams of transcendence. I don’t dream this as much as imagine it! You can imagine it too! <3 <3
Freud knew so much, and so little.
So true~